Tearing Others Down…. Bernard C. Meltzer hosted the radio call-in show What’s Your Problem? from 1969 through the mid 1990’s. He would answer questions professional or personal and would often counsel his call-in guests to “Before you speak ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.” Good advice. And yet, at some point,...
Limitations What are your limitations? Are you the recent hire trying to prove yourself in a field of older, more experienced employees? Do you feel you will never learn as much as you should and therefore that promotion you want is off limits? Maybe you feel limited by organizational systems that were in place long before you got there and recognize that changing them is difficult…maybe too difficult? If, as Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr. once said, “All limits...
January marks the start of a fresh chapter—a blank slate— and as Vern McLellan has said,“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”What will you bring? Over the years, I have found the following six action items can go a longway in preparing for a successful and productive year ahead. Reset Your Goals"Success doesn’t happen by chance. It happens by planning." — Benjamin FranklinWhat better...
Have you ever been fired, laid off, or demoted? Have you ever felt the sting of losing thesupport of your bosses or the respect of your peers? These moments can feel like a gutpunch, shaking your confidence and leaving you questioning your worth. Yet, as difficultas these experiences may be, they can also open doors to wonderful opportunities andpersonal growth. But in that moment, it simply hurts – making it easy to lose sight of thebig...
Recently, I went to see the play A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was a simple yetmeaningful way to get into the Christmas spirit and create new, joyful memories. There’ssomething comforting about revisiting the timeless message in that story: the gentlereminder of what truly matters during this season. At its core, Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ—a moment in history thatsymbolizes hope, love, and renewal. Whether you're religious or not, the story ofChristmas carries universal truths: the power...
Leaders Are ReadersAs Harry Truman once said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”But workdays are longer today, and time seems scarcer than ever. Add to that the riseof social media and we find that our attention spans are shrinking. If a story can't be toldin less than 60 seconds, we’re quick to scroll and move on. As a result, we find the actof reading novels, books, and articles for business or pleasure...
A leader at every level, in every industry, is given the responsibilities ofproblem solving, adapting, overcoming, managing projects and people andall while exceeding expectations. Who wouldn’t want to be a leader? The reality is that being a leader, having the title, does not mean that youhave all the answers. Being a good leader may mean you have someanswers but not all of them. Being a great leader means you recognize theneed and have the desire to improve...
All said and done, we spend a third of our life at work; more than that for some. Who we surround ourselves with, the culture and attitudes we show up for, and how we treat one another matters. From top to bottom of the organizational chart, we can all contribute to creating a workplace worthy of showing up for. It begins with gratitude which according to Forbes, is good for business not to mention our physical...
In leadership, firmness isn’t about rigidity—it’s about clarity and conviction in decision-making. Being firm means knowing when to stand by a choice or direction, even whenpressures mount. A firm leader demonstrates steadiness, helping teams feel secure intheir work and committed to a shared goal. “In a crisis, don’t hide behind anything oranybody. They’re going to find you anyway,” said Lee Iacocca, former CEO of Chrysler.Being firm means accepting responsibility, showing up fully, and setting a clear...
Last month, I led a group through the benefits of collaboration. As a leader, you can dominate and dictate, or you can collaborate and facilitate your team’s success. Building influence isn’t about controlling outcomes; it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels they have a stake in achieving goals. Collaborative teamwork benefits both the team and leadership. Here are the top five I value most: Self-AwarenessCollaboration requires actively listening and engaging with others’ perspectives. This feedback helps you...